Ladysmith Day to feature country, rock artists, car show on May 3

Posted on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 2:27 pm

Ladysmith Day Festival on May 3 will feature Virginia native and country music artist Mickie James, who will bring her high energy to the stage.

Leading off the day’s entertainment will be a regional favorite, Moe’s Garage Band http://www.moesgaragerocks.com/. This group of five talented musicians plays just about everything from rock music file.

Mickie, who grew up in the Caroline and Hanover County areas, has been an entertainer and athlete since childhood. The TNA Impact professional wrestling star – a multi-time world champion – has spent the past decade as part of some of the biggest pro wrestling organizations in the world. But now she’s using a microphone to rev up concert crowds rather than run down wrestling opponents, and she’s taking on the music world full-force.

“I recognized the fact that I’m starting from square one, all over again,” Mickie said. “And I kinda want to keep those two worlds separate because I want my music career to be taken seriously, and not just ‘Hey, it’s that girl that wrestles!’ ”

“This is something I’d always wanted to do, and I’ve never held back on anything I’d been dead set on doing in my life,” she continued. “I feel like that passion and that drive is what really molds you as a person of character, and people connect with that. It’s not necessarily something you can teach. You either have it or you’re scared of it.”

The 2014 event returns to the Village Green in Ladysmith with family fun. It will have free pony rides, petting zoo and moon bounce for the kids, as well as funnel cakes, steak sandwiches, pizza, fresh lemonade, limeade and kettle corn popped before your eyes.

The Ladysmith Volunteer Fire Department Car Show is now a highlight of the event as well.

More than 60 vendors are expected to be on hand with crafts and more to showcase the thousands that have now come to see this as the premiere spring event in the area.

This year’s celebration will be anchored on the Village Green at Library Boulevard and Clara Smith Street. This is the fourth year that the Village Green has been the site for the annual festival.

Crafters, businesses and organization interested in securing a space should email ladysmithdayva@gmail.com for more information and an application.